Namibia: The Vingerklip (Rock Finger) - the landmark rock in Damaraland

The Vingerklip (Rock Finger) is a tall, thin rock balanced on top of a hill. It is 35 m high and 15 m wide. It is a conglomerate monolith. Vingerklip Lodge is the nearest accommodation establishment.

Vingerklip Lodge YouTube video:

About 120 million years ago, when the super-continent of Gondwana broke up and South America drifted away from Africa, the southern African plate rose and increased the slope to the sea. The steeper slope made the Ugab River to flow faster, and it eroded more soil. For the next 100 million years the Ugab River cut deeper and deeper into the rock.

At the end of the ice age, 10 to 20 million years ago the sea level rose. The flow of the Ugab River slowed and filled the riverbed with over 100 meters of sand and rock. Two million years ago, during the northern hemisphere ice age, the sea level dropped again. Although the Ugab River once again flowed faster and cut into the previously deposited sediments the riverbed became progressively narrower.

The Ugab River was rich in dissolved carbonate. As the riverbed narrowed the carbonate glued rocks and sand into a conglomerate which was as hard as concrete.

As the riverbed continued to cut deeper and became narrower it formed terraces of decreasing heights.

Over the last 2 million years smaller rivers formed and flowed. The carbonate was washed away, leaving the hardened rock and sand in place. The Vingerklip is a part of an eroded terrace.

When looking south from the Vingerklip the different, flat terraces of the Ugab can be seen. The main terrace is the oldest and widest part of the riverbed. It is more than 160 metres above the present riverbed. A medium-aged terrace follows at 100 metres, and the youngest terrace rises only 30 metres above the modern Ugab.

Since this area does not get much rain and, the Vingerklip sits on a sound 44 meter wide base, it is unlikely to fall over in the near future as the "Finger of God" did in December 1988.

In 1970 American mountaineer Tom Choate was the first to climb the Vingerklip. His hooks can still be seen today. In 1973 the east side of the Vingerklip was conquered by free climber Udo Kleyenstuber.

www.traveltonamibia.com

YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2

Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com